The Internet has made our lives easier in so many ways. However, you need to know how you can protect your privacy and avoid fraud. Remember, not only can people be defrauded when using the Internet for investing; the fraudsters use information online to send bogus materials, solicit or phish.

Here’s what you can do to protect yourself when using social media:

Privacy Settings: Always check the default privacy settings when opening an account on a social media website.

Biographical Information: Consider customizing your privacy settings to minimize the amount of biographical information others can view on the website.

Account Information: Never give account information, Social Security numbers, bank information or other sensitive financial information on a social media website.

Friends/Contacts:  Decide whether it is appropriate to accept a “friend” or other membership request from a financial service provider, such as a financial adviser or broker-dealer.

Site Features: Familiarize yourself with the functionality of the social media website before broadcasting messages on the site. Who will be able to see your messages — only specified recipients, or all users?

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Teaching Suggestions

• Ask students to make a list of their social media accounts. How do they protect their accounts from fraudsters?
• Why do many social media websites require biographical information to open an account?

Discussion Questions

1. Why is it important to limit the information made available to other social media users?
2. Is there an obligation to accept a “friend” request of a service provider or anyone you don’t know or do not know well?
3. Why be extra careful before clicking on a link sent to you even if by a friend?